Ferdinand said: "It's important we don't lose a game in pre-season because we're playing for Manchester United. You can't pretend it doesn't mean anything. It doesn't work like that. At this club, each individual player wants to do well for himself and prove to the manager that he's capable.

"The games in pre-season are where you find your match sharpness. You just want to get out there are play, even just putting on the new kit, simple things like that, how it looks and feels. It's good we're going to places like South Africa and China, where we have lots of fans. They can see the new signings as well.

"It's nice to be back. When you see the fixtures you can start planning the season. You start working things out in your head; chomping at the bit to get back into it, then the games start coming thick and fast. The way the season ended, the sooner we get back into it the better."